Prayer box

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a prayer box having a mechanism for organizing one or more written prayer requests. The lid pivotally coupled to the container, the lid having a central section and a collar that extends downward from a periphery of the central section. The central section and the collar define an inner volume of the lid, wherein the inner volume of the lid can receive one or more sheets of prayer request. A fastener can be configured in the lid to retain the one or more sheets by the lid, wherein the fastener comprises an intercession figure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to a U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 63/087,199, filed on Oct. 3, 2020. This applicationalso claims priority to a U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.63/088,641, filed on Oct. 7, 2020. Both above applications areincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a prayer box, and more particularly,the present invention relates to a prayer box with an organizer forsorting written prayer requests.

BACKGROUND

Recently, the use of prayer boxes in many religions has increasedthroughout the world as a means for people to physically store theirwritten prayer requests and desires. Many believe that the prayer boxesdeepen their faith by allowing them to deliver a physical representationof their prayer requests to the box.

In the current prayer box containers, there is no inherent or commonmethod for setting apart or prioritizing written prayer requests fromother scriptures, writings, or artifacts within the box.

Thus, a need is there for a solution that allows organizing letters orwritten prayer requests in a prayer box. A need is there for a methodthat is both religious and efficient in sorting the written prayerrequests from rest of the articles in the prayer box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the present invention is therefore directed to aprayer box configured for organizing the written prayer requests.

It is another object of the present invention that the mechanism isreligious.

It is still another object of the present invention that the prayer boxattaches a religious symbol to the written prayer letters.

It is a further object of the present invention that the disclosedprayer box is economical to manufacture.

It is still a further object of the present invention that the prayerbox sorts the written prayer requests from other articles in the prayerbox.

It is yet another object of the present invention that the prayer boxprovides for quick and easy removal of the written prayer requests fromthe prayer box.

In one aspect, disclosed is a prayer box that includes a container and alid. The lid includes a top panel and a collar that extends downwardfrom the periphery of the central section. The edges of the collarconfigured to abut against the rim of the container. The central sectionand the collar define an inner volume of the lid. A hinge jointpivotally couple the lid to the container. A fastener configured insidethe lid, wherein the fastener configured to retain a set of sheets bythe lid. The set of sheets relates to written prayer requests.

In one aspect, the fastener can include an intercession figure, such asa cross. The intercession figure can retain the set of sheets againstthe underside of the lid. In one case, the fastener can be a clip,magnet, Velcro straps, and like.

In one aspect, disclosed is a method for placing a written prayerrequest in the disclosed prayer box. A user can open the prayer box,unfasten the fastener, and remove the intercession figure, place thewritten prayer request on the underside of the lid, and thereafterrestore the intercession figure and secure the fastener.

In one aspect, disclosed is a method of removing the written prayerrequest from the prayer box. The disclosed method includes the steps ofopening the prayer box. Thereafter the fastener can be unlocked, and theintercession figure can be removed. The intercession figure can be usedfor a religious act. The set of written prayer requests can also beremoved. After completing the religious act, the intercession figure canbe restored, and the fastener can be secured.

These and other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein willbecome readily apparent from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part ofthe specification and illustrate embodiments of the present invention.Together with the description, the figures further explain theprinciples of the present invention and to enable a person skilled inthe relevant arts to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the prayer box in an open state andshowing the cross attached to the underside of the lid, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the prayer box of FIG. 1 having the cross separated,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter. Subjectmatter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and,therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construedas not being limited to any exemplary embodiments set forth herein;exemplary embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise,a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter isintended. Among other things, for example, the subject matter may beembodied as devices and methods of use thereof. The following detaileddescription is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments ofthe present invention” does not require that all embodiments of theinvention include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode ofoperation.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments ofthe invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the”are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the contextclearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that theterms “comprises”, “comprising,”, “includes” and/or “including”, whenused herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The following detailed description includes the best currentlycontemplated mode or modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of theinvention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but ismade merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles ofthe invention, since the scope of the invention will be best defined bythe allowed claims of any resulting patent.

The following detailed description is described with reference to thedrawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to likeelements throughout. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, specific details may be set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the subject innovation. It may be evident,however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without thesespecific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devicesare shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing thesubject innovation.

Referring to FIG. 1 showing an exemplary embodiment of the prayer box100. The prayer box is shown in an open state. The prayer box having acontainer 110 and a lid 120 for covering an open top of the container.The prayer box shown in FIG. 1 is of a cuboid shape, however, prayerboxes of different shapes and sizes are within the scope of the presentinvention. For example, the prayer box can be cube or cuboid with roundedges. The container includes a base and upstanding wall defining aninner volume of the container. The container shown in FIG. 1 includes afront wall, a rear wall, and opposite sidewalls. The upper periphery ofthe upstanding wall forms a rim of the container. The inner volume ofthe container can contain holy books and artifacts.

FIG. 1 shows lid 120 having a central section and a collar 125 thatextends downward from the periphery of the central section. The edge ofthe collar abuts against the rim of the container when the lid isclosed. The central section shown in FIG. 1 is a flat panel that formsthe top of the lid. The collar extends perpendicular to the centralsection. The collar includes four sections that correspond to the fourwalls of the container. The height of the collar can vary, thus changingthe inner volume of the lid. The dimension of the inner volume can besuch as to receive a stack of sheets. More specifically, the sheets arewritten prayer requests. FIG. 1 shows the inner volume of the lid havingthe written prayer requests 130. One or more written prayer requests canbe stacked into the inner volume of the lid. Additionally, the prayerbox can include an intercession figure, such as a cross. Theintercession figure can be attached to the stack of written prayerrequests for a religious advantage. FIG. 1 shows a cross 140 placedinside the lid and over the written prayer request 130.

FIG. 2 shows the cross 140 removed from the lid 120. The stack of sheetscan be retained in the inner volume of the lid by a fastener. Thefastener can be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state.In the locked state, the set of written prayer requests can be held bythe lid. While, in the unlocked state, one or more written prayerrequests from the stack of written prayer requests can be removed.Additionally, a new written prayer request can also be placed in theinner volume of the lid. The lid of the prayer box can be secured to thecontainer using the lock 150.

In one embodiment, the fastener can be a magnetic fastener having afixed member and a mobile member. The fixed member can be fixedlycoupled to an underside of the central section of the lid. The fixedmember can be made of magnet, iron, or similar material that ismagnetically active. The fixed member can be magnetically coupled to themobile member. The mobile member can be made of magnet, iron, or similarmaterial that is magnetically active, provided that either the fixedmember or the mobile member is made of magnetic material. In one case,the mobile member can be configured in the cross. The cross when placedover the written prayer requests in the lid can magnetically hold thewritten prayer requests against the underside of the lid throughmagnetic forces. Fasteners can be a Velcro, clip, and like that can beused to hold a stack of sheets to the lid or in the inner volume of thelid. Preferably, the fastener includes an intercession figure.

For placing a written prayer request in the prayer box, a disciple canopen the prayer box, unfasten the fastener, and place the written prayerrequest in the inner volume of the lid. Thereafter, secure the fastenerand close the prayer box. To remove the written prayer requests from theprayer box, the prayer box can be opened. Thereafter the fastener can beunlocked, and the intercession figure can be removed from the prayerbox. The intercession figure can be used for a religious act, such asfor prayer. The sheets containing the written prayer request can beremoved. Once, the religious act is over, the intercession figure can berestored in the prayer box. The fastener can be locked, and the prayerbox can be closed.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one ofordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be thebest mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand andappreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents ofthe specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The inventionshould therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment,method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within thescope and spirit of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A prayer box comprising: a container; a lidpivotally coupled to the container, the lid having a central section anda collar that extends downward from a periphery of the central section,the central section and the collar defines an inner volume of the lid,the inner volume of the lid configured to receive one or more sheets ofwritten prayer requests; and a fastener configured to the lid, thefastener configured to retain the one or more sheets by the lid, whereinthe fastener comprises an intercession figure.
 2. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the prayer box is cuboid, the central section of thelid is planar, and the collar perpendicularly extends downward relativeto the central section.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein thelid is coupled to the container through one or more hinge joints.
 4. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is a magneticfastener, the magnetic fastener comprises a fixed member and a mobilemember, the fixed member fixedly coupled to an underside of the lid, themobile member configured to retain the one or more sheets against theunderside of the lid.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein themobile member is configured in the intercession figure.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 5, wherein the intercession figure is a cross.
 7. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is a clip coupled toan inner side of the lid.
 8. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe fastener is a hook and loop fastener coupled to an inner side of thelid.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fastener isconfigured to switch between a locked state and an unlocked state, inthe locked state the one or more sheets are secured in the inner volumeof the lid, in the unlock state a sheet can be added to the inner volumeof the lid or a sheet can be removed from the inner volume of the lid.10. A method of organizing one or more sheets in a prayer box, themethod comprising: providing a prayer box, the prayer box comprising: acontainer; a lid pivotally coupled to the container, the lid having acentral section and a collar that extends downward from a periphery ofthe central section, the central section and the collar defines an innervolume of the lid, the inner volume of the lid configured to receive oneor more sheets of written prayer requests; and a fastener configured inthe lid, the fastener configured to retain the one or more sheets by thelid, wherein the fastener comprises an intercession figure, the fastenerconfigured to switch between a locked state and an unlocked state.opening the prayer box; unlocking the fastener; removing theintercession figure from the prayer box; removing the one or more sheetsfrom the inner volume of the lid; performing a religious act using theintercession figure; and upon completion of the religious act, restoringthe intercession figure in the prayer box.
 11. The method according toclaim 10, wherein the intercession figure is a cross.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 10, wherein the fastener is a magnetic fastener, themagnetic fastener comprises a fixed member and a mobile member, thefixed member fixedly coupled to an underside of the lid, the mobilemember configure to retain the one or more sheets against the undersideof the lid.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the mobilemember is configured in the intercession figure.
 14. A method oforganizing one or more sheets in a prayer box, the method comprising:providing a prayer box, the prayer box comprising: a container; a lidpivotally coupled to the container, the lid having a central section anda collar that extends downward from a periphery of the central section,the central section and the collar defines an inner volume of the lid,the inner volume of the lid configured to receive one or more sheets ofprayer request; and a fastener configured in the lid, the fastenerconfigured to retain the one or more sheets by the lid, wherein thefastener comprises an intercession figure, the fastener configured toswitch between a locked state and an unlock state. opening the prayerbox; upon opening the prayer box, unlocking the fastener; upon unlockingthe fastener, adding a sheet in the inner volume of the lid; upon addingthe sheet, locking the fastener; and upon locking the fastener, closingthe prayer box.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein theintercession figure is a cross.
 16. The method according to claim 14,wherein the fastener is a magnetic fastener, the magnetic fastenercomprises a fixed member and a mobile member, the fixed member fixedlycoupled to an underside of the lid, the mobile member configure toretain the one or more sheets against the underside of the lid.
 17. Themethod according to claim 16, wherein the mobile member is configured inthe intercession figure.